Leadership

The Johnson University System is governed by one Board of Trustees and one president, Dr. Tommy Smith. The University is comprised of eight academic schools, each led by a dean reporting to the vice president for academic affairs/provost, Jon Weatherly.

Dr. Tommy Smith

Dr. L. Thomas (Tommy) Smith Jr. is the seventh president of Johnson University, beginning his tenure on July 1, 2018. He is a native of Carter County, Tennessee, and a graduate of Johnson Bible College (B.A., 1978), Emmanuel School of Religion (M.A.R., 1986), and the University of Tennessee (PhD, 1990). He has served as Professor of History and Theology at Johnson University (since 1989), Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences (2012-2014), and Vice President for Academic Affairs/Provost (2014-17). Tommy has also held associate, youth, and worship ministries in Knoxville and Valley Forge, Tennessee, and preaching ministries in Jonesborough, Kingston, Embreeville, Knoxville, and Farragut, Tennessee.

He is the author of Above Every Other Desire: A Centennial History of Johnson Bible College (1992) and Above Every Other Desire: A History of Johnson University, 1893-2018 (2018), and has contributed essays, articles, and book reviews to various publications. In addition to his administrative and teaching responsibilities, Tommy keeps an active speaking schedule including revivals, workshops, retreats, and seminars, and has conducted short-term mission trips to Haiti, Honduras, China and Ukraine. He has also engaged in interim preaching ministries, seeking to assist churches during important transitional periods. Tommy and his wife Deborah have two married sons, Jacob and Joshua, and six grandchildren. They attend the Crossings Knoxville church.

Dr. Michael Chambers

Michael L. Chambers was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, but grew up in the Midwest, attending public schools in and around Lincoln, Illinois. Dr. Chambers served as academic dean at St. Louis Christian College for the last nine years, where he was also executive vice president. He formerly was a member of the faculty of Florida Christian College and served as the institution’s first dean of students. An ordained minister, he held located ministries in Collinsville and Springfield, Illinois, before moving to Florida in 1979. He earned the B.A. from Lincoln Christian College, the M.A. and the M.Div. degrees from Lincoln Christian Seminary and completed a doctoral residency and research for a dissertation in philosophy at the University of Florida. He was awarded the Ph.D. in Ancient Philosophy from Warnborough University in England. A published author, Dr. Chambers has served as visiting professor at Cincinnati Christian Seminary and St. Louis Christian College. He is a member of the governing boards of the Consortium for Urban Religious Education in St. Louis, Missouri, and Pioneer Bible Translators in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Chambers and his wife Pamela have three married children—Christopher (Nicki), Cara (Jason), and Rachel (Jeff)—and are the thankful grandparents of seven grandchildren.

The President's Cabinet

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, Vice President for Business & Finance

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, Executive Vice President, Johnson University Florida

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, Vice President for External Relations/Chief Advancement Officer

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, Vice President for Student Services

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, Vice President for Administration

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, President

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, Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs

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